President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigeria’s law enforcement agencies and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to strengthen their alliance in combating cybercrime, terrorism, and related offences.
According to a statement from his media aide, Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu made the call during a meeting with FBI Director Christopher Wray at the State House in Abuja on Friday.
Tinubu viewed Wray’s visit as a symbol of the robust collaboration between Nigeria and the United States in combating financial crimes and terrorism.
He said that his administration is working tirelessly to combat terrorism, cybercrime, and sextortion.
Tinubu also commended the proactive efforts of multiple agencies in significantly reducing these crimes and recognized their significant representation at the gathering.
The statement reads in part: “It is an honor for me to receive Director Christopher Wray, the leader of an organisation that has demonstrated consistent procedural sophistication and a reputation for excellence over several years.
“Your visit conveys the importance of Nigeria and Nigerian partnership in the work of America’s law enforcement institutions and vice versa.
“For us, it is a recognition of what stage we are at, who we are, and the level of interest both countries share in eliminating crimes locally and globally.”
Tinubu told the FBI Director that his administration has made education a top priority, recognizing its role in addressing poverty, a key driver of criminal behavior.
“We are working hard to eliminate terrorism, cybercrime, and sextortion, and I am glad that we have a good number of agencies that are involved in reducing these crimes to the barest minimum, and they are also well represented at this meeting.”
He stressed the need for international collaboration in combating financial crimes and urged the United States to support developing countries by providing access to cutting-edge technology and specialized expertise.
During his visit, Wray reiterated his commitment to fortifying the exceptional partnership between the governments of Nigeria and the United States.
He commended Tinubu for his support of the increasing collaborations between government agencies and the FBI, aimed at ensuring the safety of citizens in both countries.
Wray expressed appreciation for his dedication to combating regional terrorism, a menace that jeopardizes the security of both the region and the United States.
He said: “We appreciate your vision in re-engineering the role of the Office of the NSA to effectively coordinate efforts on counter-terrorism, and this has already started to bear fruit in terms of the success you are recording against ISIS in West Africa and other terrorist groups.
“We appreciate your support and collaboration on cyber-enabled crimes and sextortion, which has unfortunately resulted in a few tragic deaths in the United States.
“I want to assure you of our support, whether it is on counter-terrorism, cyber-enabled crimes, kidnapping, joint investigations, and intelligence sharing. Our relationship with Nigeria is a very important one.”
The meeting was attended by top security officials, including National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Magaji Bichi.
Also in attendance were the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), retired Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, Chief of Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) Major-General Emmanuel Undiandeye, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Olanipekun Olukoyede, and National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) Major-General Adamu Laka.
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